A blue and white bowl with fillets on the interior of the bowl, which shows as indents on the exterior. Each side on the exterior has a phoenix, with a total of six phoenixes with five tails and six phoenixes with curly tails. The interior center of the bowl has two phoenixes facing each other mid flight in the clouds, all within a double circle. On the bottom there is Xuande mark and period with an unglazed foot rim. . Size: 10 x 21.5 x 10.4 cm. Style periods:1425-1435 (Xuande Reign). Category:Porcelain. Origins:Property of Li Family since 1935 and thence by descent. Shi Family until 1935. Materials:Porcelain. creators:1425-1435 (Xuande Reign). Condition: Good. Notes: Xuande Emperor was an accomplished artist and a patron of the arts. The standards he set for the imperial kiln were very high, and centuries later, scholars like Xie Zhaozhe noted that Xuande ceramics had marvellous shape, designs and that their value of that time were exceeding that of Song ceramics. Certain high quality ceramics made during Xuande's reign were presented to Kangxi emperor as birthday presents. The present bowl is a fine example of blue and white porcelain created during Xuande's reign. The designs are painted with a cobalt pigment that originated from the Middle East and brought back through trade and diplomacy. This type of pigment is no longer found during periods after Xuande, which led the imperial kiln to create it's own type of blue during the years after Xuande. Upon closer inspection, the blue used to paint the designs are spread due to age, and this is a characteristic of the cobalt pigment used in Xuande blue and white pieces, and Yuan Dynasty blue and white pieces. Upon a magnified inspection, the blue used on this piece also has iron thread like textures within the glaze. This is a characteristic of the cobalt pigment that is used in blue and white ceramics from the Yuan Dynasty to Xuande's reign. When inspected upon an angle with light, the glazed white areas also produce an orange peel like texture with tiny holes that is also a known characteristic of old and aged ceramics. The original owner of this bowl may have been someone in the imperial family close to Xuande, because of the dragons and phoenix designs which are usually reserved for the Empress, important concubines, young sons and daughters or brothers and sisters of the Emperor.